1851

For sisters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnusedfg?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=meet-the-powerful-and-innovative-women-behind-the-tippi-toes-franchise-2718898" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sarah Nuse</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganlreilly-tippitoes/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=meet-the-powerful-and-innovative-women-behind-the-tippi-toes-franchise-2718898" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Megan Reilly</a>, dance has always been at the center of their lives. Growing up, their mom worked as an instructor at a local dance studio, and performing was “in their blood,” Sarah explained.That inspired a young Sarah to teach her own classes for kids in the neighborhood when she was 12. She would clear out the dining room furniture, make squares on the floor with masking tape and invite children to come learn for a few hours each day. It brought in a little bit of cash, and they would hold shows for the neighbors. Sarah loved it, and started doing it every summer with the help of her friend Caroline and her sisters Megan and Jennie. In middle and high school, she also began assisting teachers at the studio where her mom worked.&nbsp;When Sarah went off to college at the University of Oklahoma, she put dancing on pause and picked up a waitressing job to pay the bills. But one day after being fired and needing a few hundred dollars to come up with a car payment, she called her parents in a panic. Her mother suggested she use her passion for dance and teach children at local daycare centers.“I walked into a local daycare without a flier or even really a plan. They started peppering me with questions that I had to just come up with answers on the fly, like ‘What's your cost? How long are the classes? What is the name of your business?’” said Nuse. “And at that point, it was not a business; it was just an idea. But I said clear as day, ‘<a href="https://www.tippitoesdance.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=meet-the-powerful-and-innovative-women-behind-the-tippi-toes-franchise-2718898" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tippi Toes</a>.’ Then she said, ‘We would love to have&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/tippitoes">Tippi Toes</a> at our facility. Can you start next week?’”The brand has grown immensely since Sarah started teaching out of daycares with children signing up for $20 a month. The centers that hired her referred her to other locations, and quickly she started to scale. Within a year she had 200 little dancers, and her husband would cheer her on and fill in a chart with every new sign up. When her younger sister Megan came to college, she began helping out with a team of girls.&nbsp;“It was working really well. And so that's when we decided to hire some managers in these places and have multiple locations going at one time. And I think it was at that point I thought, ‘I feel like we can do something really special with this,’” said Nuse.That was back in 1999. Fast forward to today, and Tippi Toes has 32 locations and serves over 8,000 students in the United States. The brand also sold rights to a franchise in China, where there are five Tippi Toes studios.&nbsp;Reilly later transferred to a school in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She took the business there with her, and later to Cincinnati in 2007, where she moved after graduating and starting a family. Their older sister Jennie is now a franchisee that owns a location in Cincinnati and a territory in Nashville as well.&nbsp;“It became my part-time gig, and I just continued to build the brand and spread it wherever I went, and Sarah did the same,” said Megan, who now acts as chief operating officer. At this point, we were kind of all over the country and so it just really organically grew from there.”When Reilly went to Cincinnati, she expanded the brand’s clientele to also include YMCA locations and gyms like Lifetime Fitness. “That was further confirmation of the flexibility of our program. We can meet kids wherever they are and do Tippi Toes anywhere that families gather,” said Reilly. “And that came in handy when the coronavirus hit, because we adapted to dancing in backyards and in neighborhoods. We have been able to show our franchise owners a lot of different ways to thrive.”Now, all Tippi Toes locations are franchise-owned. Sarah acts as a visionary and Megan manages the day-to-day operations, helping franchisees run a successful operation.&nbsp;“What brings me the greatest amount of joy is giving women the tools to be able to make this business work. Because I learned a lot in my early years and being able to navigate that and giving them the tools has been really huge,” said Nuse. “I'm so proud of our franchise owners. They do a really excellent job representing my brand. It’s a continuous journey and one that I’m grateful I get to lead.”&nbsp;Now the women are focused on keeping Tippi Toes strong post-pandemic. They are dedicated to helping franchisees continue to reach children and teach them not only dance, but to have confidence in themselves. That has been one of the most rewarding parts of the business and remains a core value as the brand continues in the future.“Growing up, my dance teacher was a light in my life. It’s really special the impact that she had on me, and she gave me hope to know that I could have that impact on other people. And that’s really the driving force behind Tippi Toes: allowing kids to know that they are strong and courageous and there's nothing that they can't do. I really hope that we can give them the best 45 minutes of their whole week.”The startup costs to open a Tippi Toes Dance Company franchise range from $52,100 to $69,100, including a $35,000 franchise fee. For more information, visit https://www.tippitoesdance.com/franchise/

Meet the Powerful and Innovative Women Behind the Tippi Toes Franchise

1851 Franchise

Sarah Nuse, who started the traveling dance-lesson company back in 1999, and her sister Megan Reilly, Chief Operating Officer, reveal how the brand began.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

meet-the-powerful-and-innovative-women-behind-the-tippi-toes-franchise

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Meet the Powerful and Innovative Women Behind the Tippi Toes Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS